Early Predictors of Infected Pancreatic Necrosis in Severe Acute Pancreatitis: Implications of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio, Blood Procalcitonin Concentration, and Modified CT Severity Index.

Background: Infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) accounts for 30% mortality in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Early prediction of IPN occurrence is critical for prophylactic measures to be taken. This study aimed to evaluate the predicting value for IPN of combined markers at early stages of SAP.

Speciation analysis of chromium by carboxylic group functionalized mesoporous silica with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Carboxyl-group functionalized mesoporous silica (CFMS) prepared by one-pot co-condensation method was employed for the solid phase extraction (SPE) of chromium species for the first time. A new approach of SPE coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was thus established for the speciation of chromium in environmental water samples. The influences of pH, volume of sample, extraction time, amount of adsorbent, elution conditions, co-existing ions and adsorption capacity were investigated on adsorption or elution of chromium species.

Preparation and analytical application of novel thiol-functionalized solid extraction matrices: From mesoporous silica to hybrid monolithic capillary column.

A comprehensively comparative study of thiol-functionalized mesoporous silica and organic-inorganic hybrid monolithic column was reported, aiming at the separation and enrichment of inorganic arsenic. Thiol-functionalized mesoporous silica was synthesized based on the one-step co-condensation method. At the same time, a novel thiol-functionalized organic-inorganic hybrid monolithic column was synthesized using an unconventional ternary weak basic solvent system via one-step sol-gel process.

Preparation of an aptamer based organic-inorganic hybrid monolithic column with gold nanoparticles as an intermediary for the enrichment of proteins.

A novel strategy for the preparation of an aptamer based organic-inorganic hybrid affinity monolithic column was developed successfully using gold nanoparticles (GNPs) as an intermediary for a sandwich structure to realize the functional modification of the surface of the monolithic matrix. This monolithic matrix was facilely pre-synthesized via one-step co-condensation. Due to the high surface-to-volume ratio of GNPs and the large specific surface area of the hybrid matrix, the average coverage density of aptamers on the hybrid monolith reached 342 pmol μL(-1).

Ampulla dilation with different sized balloons to remove common bile duct stones.

Aim: To assess the outcomes of ampulla dilation with different sized balloons to remove common bile duct (CBD) stones.

Methods: Patients (n = 208) were divided into five groups based on the largest CBD stone size of < 5, 6-8, 8-12, 12-14, and > 14 mm. Patients underwent limited endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) alone or limited EST followed by endoscopic papillary balloon dilation with 8, 10, 12 and 14 mm balloons, such that the size of each balloon did not exceed the size of the CBD.

Effect of recombinant adenovirus vector mediated human interleukin-24 gene transfection on pancreatic carcinoma growth.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant tumor affecting an ever increasing number of patients with a mean 5-year survival rate below 4%. Therefore, gene therapy for cancer has become a potential novel therapeutic modality. In this study we sought to determine the inhibitory effects of adenovirus-mediated human interleukin-24 (AdhIL-24) on pancreatic cancer.